DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) today deployed 56 long-term observers (LTOs) across all 64 districts of Bangladesh to monitor the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12.

"The long-term observers are a critical element of our mission. Their observations and insights will ground our impartial and fact-based evaluation of the electoral process," said Deputy Chief Observer Inta Lase at a brief ceremony before the deployment at a city hotel. 

The EU EOM follows a robust and well-established methodology of long-term, nationwide observation to ensure a balanced and thorough assessment of the electoral process. 

The long-term observers will closely monitor key aspects of the election at the regional level and support the analysis of the core expert team based in Dhaka.

"Our observers will work in two teams and in their areas of observation they will meet voters, election officials, candidates and political parties, as well as citizen observers and youth activists not only in the cities, but also in small towns and villages," said Inta Lase.

The observers have been drawn from EU Member States, Canada, Norway and Switzerland. Before deployment, they received extensive briefings on the electoral process, political environment, legal framework, and media and social landscapes in Bangladesh.

The mission was deployed following an invitation from the authorities of Bangladesh and is led by Chief Observer Ivars Ijabs, a member of the European Parliament, who officially launched the mission at a press conference on January 11 in Dhaka.

As the election day approaches, the mission will be reinforced by 90 short-term observers along with observers from diplomatic missions of EU Member States, Canada, Norway and Switzerland to observe voting, counting and tabulation processes. 

A delegation of Members of the European Parliament will also join the mission later on. 

At full strength, the EU EOM will comprise 200 observers from all 27 EU member states, Canada, Norway and Switzerland.

The EU EOM will present its preliminary findings at a press conference on February 14 in Dhaka.

A final report with recommendations for future electoral processes will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process.

Both documents will be made public and published on the Mission's website.

The EU EOM operates under a strict code of conduct requiring neutrality and non-interference and conducts its activities in line with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005, said the EU officials.